African Fusion November 2021

KEMPER direct extraction

The VacuFil high-vacuum torch extraction system from KEMPER is in use at Aebi Schmidt Nederland, helping to protect welders and ensure that the air in all areas of the manufacturing hall remains clean. Direct torch extraction ensures clean hall air

T he quality of the air in the manu- facturing hall of the Dutch manu- facturer, Aebi Schmidt Nederland, was already at an acceptable level, but as a rule, it tended to be very close to the maximum legal limits. This was clearly not good enough with regard to the health of its employees. By international comparison, the Neth- erlands already has one of the lowest workplace exposure limits for production plants. However, the company wanted to improve the air quality in order to push the concentration of hazardous substances even further below the prescribed limit of 1.0mg/m³, particularly in thewelding shop. “One focus at Aebi Schmidt is on improv- ing working conditions,” says facility man- ager Steven Koenderink. “Air quality was a central issue here.” The company wanted to ban, completely, hazardous substances with lung-damaging, toxic or even carci-

nogenic effects, such as those associated with the MIG/MAG welding process used to manufacture heavy steel components. Increased demand in recent years had generatedmoreweldingwork. The compa- ny’s development into the world’s leading supplier of systems for cleaning and clear- ing traffic areas aswell asmaintaininggreen spaces also brought with it higher protec- tivewelding equipment requirements. Aebi Schmidt wanted to continue this legacy with a healthy and satisfiedworkforce, par- ticularly sinceemployeehealth is playingan increasingly important role in the competi- tion for the brightest minds. In the search for a supplier of extraction technology, KEMPER GmbH from neigh- bouringGermany came up trumps, “Mainly because of the positive test experiences and the comprehensive advicewe received in the course of our decision-making pro- cess,” recalls Koenderink.

To protect automatic welding equipment and operators, KEMPER installed a push/pull general ventilation system in the welding robot gantry, which captures rising welding fume at a height of around 4.0 m above the equipment. Mobile high-vacuum extraction units for flexible production The requirements for the system specified the cleanest possible hall air compatible with production needs, that is, the extrac- tion systems for hazardous substances generated duringweldingwere required to perform effectively while maintaining flex- ibility in production, within a fixed budget.

High-vacuum systems with connected extraction torches capture welding fumes directly at the point of origin while tracking of the source of fume as the welder moves the welding torch.

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November 2021

AFRICAN FUSION